Main menu

You are here

How to prevent the flu

Submitted by Yahya Noor on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 2:57pm

By Laura Irias, Chelsea High School and Healthy Chelsea Intern

The flu is a very common seasonal virus that is very similar to a cold, but worse because it can lead to hospitalization or even death when it doesn’t get treated soon enough. Not only that, but it weakens your immune responses as well. This virus can be noticed and prevented before you get sick.

Symptoms

People with the flu, often feel the following symptoms:

Fever (very common to get a fever, but not everyone with the flu gets a fever)

Cough

Sore throat

Runny nose/stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue (always tired)

Vomiting/diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Note for parents:

Watch when your child are doing activities and they run out of breath easily

If children refuse to drink water, watch out because they will get dehydrated.

What does the FLU do to your body?

The flu virus and the body’s immune responses both cause damage, destroying and weakening the protective cells in the bronchial tubes, implants in the mucous membranes at the back of the throat and upper part of the bronchial tubes, which can even cause complicated bacterial pneumonia. However, this does not just affect you, but the people that are around you as well, since not all immune systems are strong. Some are stronger than others, but some can be weaker than others, as well.

If you have not gotten the flu shot and have not been attacked by the virus, should you still get the flu shot?

The answer is yes. Yes, because according to the research, there are four different flu viruses that are circulating in this season. However, if you did not get the flu the first time, there are still three chances of getting it and by getting the shot you can still prevent it. If you start to notice some symptoms on yourself then you can start by taking Tamiflu. Tamiflu is a prescription medicine used to treat the flu (influenza) in people 2 weeks of age and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 2 days. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu in people 1 year and older. You can start taking this medicine but if you don’t see results you should go to the doctor. Here are all three FDA-approved antiviral drugs recommended by CDC to treat flu this season: